Times of India: Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: India lose 2-3 to Ireland, out of medal contention

NEW DELHI: India were knocked out of medal contention after a historic 2-3 defeat to Ireland in a crucial match of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia on Friday.

Ireland came back twice from a goal down to record their first ever win over India. For India, Ramandeep Singh (10′) and Amit Rohidas (26′) sounded the board while for Ireland, Shane O’Donoghue (24′), Sean Murray (36′) and Lee Cole (42′) were on the mark.

India needed a win to stay in contention for the final and they did start well with a brilliant deflection from Ramandeep in the first quarter to go 1-0 up. Ramandeep, after injecting, snuck from behind the Irish defenders and deflected Varun Kumar’s flick inside the cage as India finished the first quarter with a 1-0 lead.

However, Ireland were more probing as their forwards led a wave of attacks. And it was one such moment of brilliance from them that allowed O’Donoghue to smash one to the right of Indian goalie and into the cage after receiving a sumptuous crash ball inside the Indian D to make it 1-1.

But two minutes later, India won their third penalty corner of the match and this time, Amit Rohidas’s flick was strong enough to fly past the Irish goalie, giving the 2017 bronze medallists 2-1 lead. The first half ended with India holding on to their slim 2-1 lead.

Ireland then pushed Indian defenders harder and six minutes into the third quarter, a defensive slipup from the Indian goalkeeper allowed Sean Murray to send the ball inside the crash after receiving a cross from the right. Suraj Karkera looked furious at his defenders but the goal was more his fault than theirs.

With the third quarter drawing to a close, Ireland won their second penalty corner and this time Lee Cole sneaked between the Indian goalkeeper and the defenders to deflect the low flick inside the cage as Ireland took the lead for the first time in the contest to make it 3-2.

As the match came to a close, India upped the ante, taking off their goalie and played with 11 outfield players. However, a flurry of attacks late into the final quarter wasn’t enough as Ireland held on to their lead and recorded a famous win over their much accomplished counterparts.

India, however, will have a chance to avenge the loss when they met Ireland again on Saturday in a 5th-6th playoff clash.